The 10 Most Popular Foods You’d Eat in Japan
Have you had some Japanese cuisine? Or even heard about them? I’d say cuisine is one of the topics to communicate with native speakers, so reading this, why don’t you ask about Japanese cuisine to them? Let me introduce some Japanese cuisine today!
寿司
SUSHI

Needless to say, sushi is the most significant dish that represents Japanese cuisine. And it is also the most famous Japanese dish outside of Japan. Sushi is basically vinegared rice with seafood on the top or a mixture of the two. You can add a touch of wasabi (horseradish) and a very small amount of shouyu (soy sauce) to enhance the flavor of the sushi. There are several types of Sushi Japanese usually enjoy to eat.. One basic form of sushi, nigiri-zushi, are hand-pressed mounds of rice with a dab of wasabi and parts of various ingredients on top.




天ぷら
Tempura

As one of the most popular Japanese foods along with sushi, tempura has already gained global popularity. Tempura is a very popular Japanese dish of deep-fried vegetables and seafood that is coated in a very light and airy batter that is fried to perfection. The seafood is usually shrimp or white fish. Vegetables commonly used include onions, potatoes, sweet potatoes, shiitake mushrooms, kabocha (Japanese pumpkin), green peppers and carrots. In general, tempura is dipped in a special tempura sauce based in a mix of dashi (broth) and soy sauce and eaten with grated Japanese white radish called daikon.


Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced



豆腐
Tofu

Tofu is made of curdled soy milk, pressed into blocks in a process similar to making cheese. It is a good source of protein and a staple of Japanese cuisine. The ingredient is essential in Japanese cooking and used in everything from appetizers to soups to fried dishes! Nowadays, tofu is widely known across the world for its health benefits and for being a versatile ingredient.


焼き鳥
Yakitori

In recent years, Japanese yakitori or grilled chicken has become known to people overseas. Yakitori is grilled chicken skewers made from bite-sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, skin, liver, heart, butt, neck and other innards. Usually, when you order your sticks, you choose salt or sauce called tare.


お茶(ochya)
Green tea

Green tea is synonymous with Japanese tea. Japanese green tea (緑茶) is ubiquitous in Japan and therefore is more commonly known simply as “tea” (お茶). It is the most consumed beverage in Japan, valued for its health and restorative properties. Various types of tea are widely available and consumed at any point of the day.



とんかつ
Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a Japanese dish of a pork cutlet that has been coated in flaky Japanese panko breadcrumbs then deep-fried. Tonkatsu is served as a personal meal with shredded cabbage as an accompaniment. Tonkatsu is usually eaten with tonkatsu sauce, which is a thick and fruity type of Worcester sauce. Tonkatsu is becoming more and more popular, not only in Japan, but also among international visitors.



らーめん
Ramen

Ramen is a noodle soup dish that was originally imported from China and has become one of the most popular dishes in Japan in recent decades. Ramen is widely considered a Japanese invention, but there’s much debate over whether the noodles were first made in Japan or China.Ramen is ramen, consisting of the four parts – soup base, broth, noodles and toppings.


うどん
Udon

Udon is thick Japanese noodles made of wheat flour and which is chewy and soft. Udon can be eaten at home, family restaurants, or udon specialty shops and is considered to be one of the most widely eaten Japanese foods in Japan. Many people love udon noodles because they’re light and easy to digest. There are few traditional Japanese dishes more universally adored than Japanese udon noodles.



お好み焼き
Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is a popular pan-fried food that consists of batter and cabbage. Better known as ‘Japanese pizza’ in the world. Okonomi means “whatever you like” or “whatever you want,” while yaki means grilled. Okonomiyaki differs from region to region, but it is said to come from Osaka originally. The toppings, sauces and type of batter used to make this dish varies greatly throughout Japan.


たこやき
Takoyaki

Takoyaki is a Japanese snack that is in the shape of little round balls. Tako-yaki literally translates to “octopus-grilled/fried” and some people may call it “Octopus Balls” or “Octopus Dumplings”. Many people typically think of Takoyaki as something you get from street vendors at festivals and events. These days takoyaki is eaten all over Japan, but authentic Osaka takoyaki tastes even better than the takoyaki found in other cities.



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